Toilet seat pack and container



March 19, 1935. J c. THOMASMA 1,995,158

.TOILET SEAT PACK AND CONTAINER Filed Dec. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffiz/efliwr John 6. Thomas'ma March 19, 1935. J THOMA MA 1,995,158

TOILET SEAT PACK AND CONTAINER Filed Dec. 9, 1933. 2 sneets sheet 2 Z l 3 6 5 -5 "NH 3?- 7 v as j 27 5 F 1 a9 frzz/eni'ar John .7720 (251720 Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

able supporting rack adapted to support a pack 5 of toilet seat covers in a convenient position rearwardly and above a conventional toilet seat, as well as a novel pack of toilet seat covers as more specifically herein described.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a novel package adapted to hold a plurality of thin paper seat covers in a vertical position in such a manner permitting convenient successive withdrawal of the folded sheets and simultaneously supporting and maintaining the sheets remaining in the package in proper supported and vertical position, thereby eliminating dislocation of the covers within the pack and falling and folding thereof therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a backing sheet to which a plurality of thin paper seat covers are attachable, which backing sheet is formed from a single blank of semirigid paper and has portions thereof cut out and folded to present laterally and perpendicularly extending shelves and tunnels which are adapted to properly support a plurality of thin tissue covers in parallel relation against the backing sheet through engagement thereof with edges of cut-out portions of said sheets.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a paper toilet seat cover of a shape and design which will maintain itself in upright perpendicular position in a pack, and a novel backing sheet therefor having means for engaging the seat cover edges at several points.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an inexpensive paper pack supporting device having releasable key-controlled locking means for looking a relatively thin package or container into said device.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the following specification and claims.

On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my metal paper pack-holding rack attachable to the bolts of a standard toilet seat cover and showing a paper pack in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the rack shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of my novel rack and a paper container with a pack of sheets therein.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on a vertical line and substantially upon line 5-5 of Fig. 6, except omitting the front and top wall 5 of the package.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the paper package with inserted paper blanks and with forward parts broken away to show the relative position of the respective parts.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the corner structure of the backing sheet for the paper pack.

Fig. 8 is a partial plan view of a paper blank from which the backing sheet of my pack is made. 15

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of the paper blank comprising substantially one-half of the backing member; and illustrating the cuts and creases made during the described manufacture.

While the present invention is particularly directed to the package of paper blanks and the backing and container means therefor, I will briefly describe the rack in connection with which my present invention is used in order that its 25 full efiicacy may be clear. Reference numeral 10 indicates a U-shaped metal supporting member of substantial rigidity having legs 11 formed of sufiicient length to provide for bending thereof. Legs 11 are bent perpendicularly to said 30 member 10 and into a horizontal plane and have formed in each thereof a pair of spaced apart slots or recesses 12 all in substantially parallel relation and extending diagonally with respect to said legs. The purpose of this construction 35 is to provide quick convenient mounting or dismounting with respect to the conventional spaced apart bolts of standard toilet seat covers. Secured horizontally upon the forward face of member 10 is a metal shelf 13 having its lower 40 edge bent downwardly and at right angles to permit convenient riveting or welding thereof to said member 10, and having its opposite longitudinal edge 14 turned perpendicularly and upwardly as indicated in the drawings, said shelf forming a support for a removable paper pack container insertable into my rack from above. The upper edge of flange 14 of shelf 13 is preferably bent back upon itself to form a head as shown in cross section in Fig. 3.

A fiat relatively rigid metal bar 15 is secured in upwardly extending and perpendicular relation to the upper edge of member 10, and has its lower end secured by rivets or the like to said member 10 as indicated at Fig. 3. A flat metal 55 cross-arm 16 having a rectangular depression formed midway between its ends as indicated at 1'7, is secured midway between its ends by a plurality of screws 18 to bar 15 as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, andso that said bar would be snugly received by said depressed portion of said cross-arm, thereby adding strength and rigidity to the structure. The ends 19 of the cross-arm 16 are bent at right angles and forwardly, as indicated in the drawings and each said end has an aperture formed therein. A thin metal cover or apron 20 of substantially rectangular shape, and

depending end flanges and 26 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The end flange 25 of housing 24 is preferably larger than flange 26 and the two sides thereof and has its two side edges extended and turned back upon themselves in such a manner that the same may be slipped upon and slidingly engage the upper end of bar 15. As indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a relatively small snap lock housing 2'7 is secured in inverted horizontalposition in the housing 24 by means of suitable rivets 28 passing through the lock casing side flanges and wall of housing 24, (Fig. 3), the cylinder 29 of said lock extending upwardly through a suitable aperture in wall of housing 24 for convenient access thereto. The bolt of lock 27 is springably mounted and has its beveled end facing downwardly as shown in Fig. 3 and is adapted to snap into releasable locking engagement with the upper edge of an elongated aperture 30 formed in the upper. end of bar 15, as shown in cross section in Fig. 3. It will be apparent that key-controlled retraction of said lock bolt will permit complete removal of housing 24 whereupon a relatively thin carton or other paper container may be inserted into the aforedescribed device, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. To lock such carton or container into my rack, the housing 24 is replaced so that the side flanges of housing end 25 slide upon the side edges of bar 15 and descend until bolt of lock 27 snaps into aperture 30. The forward downwardly extending flange 26 extends below the: plane of the upper edge of the paper carton and prevents unauthorized removal of the paper box or other paper container. When the paper seat covers have all been withdrawn from the container, the empty box may be quickly replaced as aforesaid.

I will now describe the paper pack shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, which is adapted to be inserted into the afore-described rack in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 6 the reference numeral 33 illustrates a rectangular cardboard box which is relatively thin and substantially of the proportions and dimensions indicated in Figs. 5 and 7 which are on a larger scale. The box 33 has an elongated front opening 34 extending substantially from one side to the other and parallel to the bottom edge of the box, as partly shown in Fig. 6, the upper edge of said opening being preferably concave. The opening 34 is preferably smaller than the apron 20 and when the box 33 is mounted in the rack, apron 20 lies over the said opening and normally covers the same. The box 33 may be made of any semi-rigid cardboard such as is used in the manufacture of paper boxes. A backing sheet 35, preferably made of semi-rigid cardboard from a single blank, approximately onehalf of said blank being shown in Fig. 8, forms.v

the means upon which a plurality of paper seat covers of thin paper are mounted.

An important factor in connection with the mounting of paper seat covers in a convenient and compact position is the fact that if a plurality thereof are set on edge within a container, because of the thinness and flexibility of the paper, the same will bend and fall to the bottom of the container and below a convenient opening therefor, thereby wasting much paper because of the inaccessibility thereof. My invention entirely eliminates this operation.

An important feature of my invention is the novel design of a paper seat cover and the provision of a backing sheet of novel construction which is made of a single blank which will now be described. The cardboard blank from which the backing sheet 35 is made, as illustrated in Fig. 9, is made so that the lower edge thereof has two downwardly extending integral tongues 36 of relatively large size and at each of the corners thereof as indicated in Fig. 8. The tongues 36 are creased along four parallel lines in a manner well known in the art, said lines being indicated by the reference numerals 37 and 37' respectively and during the same operation an upwardly opening, substantially semi-circular slit 38 is formed in each tongue, the terminal of said slit being the lower crease 37. The semi-circular sectors formed by said slit are indicated by reference numeral 39. At the same die cutting op- I eration a semi-circular slit is formed at a point above each of the tongues 36, thereby forming upwardly extending tongues as indicated in Fig. 9. Each of the tongues 36, cut and creased as aforesaid, is then turned horizontally, then upwardly and again horizontally and the sector 39 of each of said tongues is placed in a position immediately adjacent the backing sheet and a portion thereof inserted in fractional engagement behind the tongues 40 respectively, formed on each side of said backing sheet 35. It will be apparent that tunnels, indicated by the reference numerals 42, which are substantially rectangular in cross section are thereby formed on the forward side of and at each lower corner of the blank 35.

It will be apparent that I have provided a novel package which is adapted to maintain in proper vertical and adjacent position, a plurality of folded paper seat covers in such a way that the paper seat covers will be maintained in fractional and supported position upon the aforedescribed paper backing sheet, and further that I have provided an inexpensive, quickly replaceable pack of novel paper seat covers and the holding and such means includes a hinged element acting as a' guard to normally close the front opening of the paper pack receptacle for sanitary purposes.

I am aware that numerous details of construc- 1 tion may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not desire to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A paper pack for toilet seats or the like comprising a flat semi-rigid backing sheet formed from a single blank and having a downwardly extending tongue formed integral with each of the two side edges thereof, each said tongue having a plurality of transverse creases whereby said tongue may be folded forwardly and then upwardly and removably secured to said backing sheet, said folded tongues forming transverse extending loops, and a plurality of superposed paper sheets secured to the bottom edge of said pack and said sheets having a substantially rectangular portion cut away from each of the two lower corners thereof, thereby presenting downwardly facing edge surfaces, said edge surfaces downwardly resting on said tunnels whereby said sheets are supported in proper relative position, each of said sheets being folded along a transversal line to present one free edge thereof at a point intermediate the upper and lower edges of said pack.

2. A paper pack for toilet seats or the like comprising a flat semi-rigid backing sheet formed from a single blank and having a downwardly extending tongue formed integral with each of the two lower corners thereof, each said tongue having a plurality of transverse creases whereby said tongue may be folded forwardly and then rearwardly and removably secured to said backing sheet, said folded tongues forming transversally extending tunnels, and a pair of forwardly projecting shelves formed integral with the opposite sides of said backing sheet and above said tunnels, and a plurality of paper sheets having a pair of spaced apart substantially right angled shoulders formed along each side edge and forming downward faces, the edge faces of said lower shoulders resting on said tunnels and said paper shoulders resting on said paper shelves respectively whereby said plurality of sheets are maintained in upright and superposed relation during withdrawal of successive sheets.

3. A paper pack for toilet seats or the like comprising a flat semi-rigid backing formed from a single blank and having a downwardly extending tongue formed integral with each of the two lower corners thereof, each said tongue having a plurality of transverse creases whereby said tongue may be folded forwardly and then rearwardly and at one end removably secured to said backing sheet, said folded tongues forming transversally extending turmels, and a pair of forwardly projecting shelves formed integral with the opposite sides of said backing sheet and above said tunnels, and a plurality of paper sheets having a. pair of spaced apart substantially right angled shoulders formed along each side edge and forming downward faces, the edge faces of said lower shoulders resting on said tunnels and said paper shoulders resting on said paper shelves respectively whereby said plurality of sheets are maintained in upright and superposed relation during withdrawal of successive sheets.

4. A paper pack for toilet seats or the like comprising a flat semi-rigid backing formed from a single blank andhaving a downwardly extending tongue formed integral with each of the two lower corners thereof, each said tongue having a plurality of transverse creases whereby said tongue may be folded forwardly and then rearwardly and removably secured to said backing sheet, said folded tongues forming transversally extending tunnels and a pair of forwardly projecting shelves formed integral with the opposite sides of said backing sheet and above said tunnels, and a plurality of paper sheets having a. pair of spaced apart substantially right angled shoulders formed along each side edge and forming downward faces, the edge faces of said lower shoulders resting on said tunnels and said upper shoulders resting on said shelves respectively whereby said plurality of sheets are maintained in upright and superposed relation during withdrawal of successive sheets, and a relatively flat container adapted to hold said packin vertical position, said container having an elongated front opening and said sheets being folded along a transverse edge so that one free edge of each of said sheets would. be presented to said opening to permit convenient withdrawal of said sheets.

5. In a pack of paper toilet seat covers or the like, a semi-rigid backing sheet, and substantially rectangular container therefor, said backing sheet having an L-shaped strip partially out out from each side thereof, each of said strips having a portion integral with said backing sheet and being bent first upwardly then backwardly, said backing sheet having a vertically extending slit formed beneath each of said integral strips, the free end of each of said out out strip being insertable in said slits whereby each of said strips forms a forwardly extending anchoring member; and a plurality of paper seat covers removably mounted on said backing sheet and having their opposite 'edges cut away to form substantially opposite of right angled shoulders, said shoulders normally resting on said anchoring members respectively and said sheets being thereby supported; and a relatively thin rectangular box for said pack and having a front opening extending across the same, whereby said sheets may be successively removed.

JOHN C. 'I'HOMASMA. 

